Clamp

ABSTRACT

The invention disclosed herein generally relates to an improved clamp assembly for attaching two or more objects, such as furniture, tables, desks, dividers or other panel elements together of variable thicknesses. The elements of the clamp assembly invention generally include a clamp body with a clamp stop and clamp spine, a cross-dowel, an actuating screw and clamp lever. The clamp assembly imparts a compressive clamping force by utilizing a fulcrum-lever arrangement whereby the clamp lever is moved in an arcuate trajectory by rotating the actuating screw in the desired direction as the clamp lever pivots about a fulcrum point. This allows the user to easily place and connect various objects, such as tables, desks, courtesy and privacy panels and another desired object that the user desires to secure in a desired arrangement by imparting a compressive force to the panel element that is to be connected to another panel element.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 14/480,694 entitled “CLAMP” filed on Sep. 9, 2014and claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication, Ser. No. 61/876,053 entitled “CLAMP” filed on Sep. 10,2013, all of which are incorporated by reference herein for allpurposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to apparatus and methods forconnecting pieces of material together or for connecting two or moreobjects together. In certain embodiments, the present invention isrelated to apparatus and methods for connecting two or more pieces offurniture, tables or office equipment together in desiredconfigurations. More specifically, the invention disclosed herein isdirected to a novel clamp and method for connecting furniture, tables,privacy panels or other office equipment, or any other materials orobjects to be connected securely together in a desired configuration.

Generally, various types of table and desk units are made availablewhich improve the amount of workspace available to one in a typical homeor office environment. Such units may include a privacy panel orcourtesy panel permanently fixed to the unit that prohibits the movementor reconfiguration of the unit into different locations or arrangementsas dictated by office space needs. When the time comes to disassembleand move these units, one must remove the screws or nails holding thepanels in contact with the unit which typically results in damage to theunit as well as the appearance of unsightly holes and scratches to thesurfaces of the furniture unit. In other instances, the hardwareattaching the various panels to the unit is typically located underneaththe unit or panel elements connected to the unit which is difficult toaccess and manipulate for assembling or disassembling the unit from thepanel elements.

It is known in the art to utilize various clamping means to impart astraight-line or axial force between the desks, panels or tables beingconnected together. Such clamping means, such as the generally knownC-clamp requires the use of a screw or knob which is turned to bring theends of the clamp together to impart an axial compressive force betweenthe desk, panel and/or table surfaces disposed between the ends of theC-clamp. It is often quite difficult, if not impossible, to position theclamp in a location suitable to allow the user to easily manipulate theclamp screw to secure the unit and panel elements together in aconnected fashion. Such clamps tend to protrude from the assembly atvarious points, either internally or externally, affecting the aestheticappearance of the desk and panel assembly and may cause injury to aperson using the assembly where they may inadvertently contact thoseportions of the clamp protruding from the assembly. In similar manner,the user's clothing may be caught by the clamp hardware protruding fromthe clamp assembly causing damage to the person's clothing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein generally relates to an improved clampassembly for attaching two or more objects, such as furniture, tables,desks, dividers or other panel elements together of variablethicknesses. The elements of the clamp assembly invention are seen inthe attached drawings and generally include a clamp body, a cross-dowel,an actuating screw and a clamp lever. In various alternativeembodiments, the clamp assembly may also include a nut plate, a “C”clamp shaped clamp body, and/or an “L” shaped clamp body as may berequired by various installation conditions.

The clamp assembly imparts a compressive clamping force by utilizing afulcrum-lever arrangement whereby the clamp lever is moved in an arcuatetrajectory by turning the actuating screw in the desired direction asthe clamp lever pivots at the fulcrum point located on a surface of theclamp spine. This allows the user to easily place and connect variousobjects, such as tables, desks, courtesy and privacy panels (generallyreferred to herein as “panel elements”) and any other desired objectwhich the user desires to secure in a desired arrangement by imparting acompressive force to the panel element which is to be connected toanother panel element. A clamp pad may also be attached to the contactsurfaces of the clamp body and/or clamp lever to protect the surfaces ofthe panel element being clamped and/or to impart additional frictionalforce to the panel element to prevent or reduce and/or resist relativemotion between the connected panel elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the features and advantages of theinvention will become readily appreciated, as they become betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description, whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side plan view of an embodiment of the clamp assembly of thedisclosed invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosedinvention;

FIGS. 3A-3C show a perspective view of the clamp assembly action andside views of various depictions of the clamp assembly shown attached topanel elements of various sizes of the disclosed invention;

FIGS. 4A-4B depict a perspective view of an embodiment of the clampassembly and a side view of an embodiment of the clamp assembly attachedto a table and panel element;

FIGS. 5A-5C show side views of various embodiments of the clamp assemblywith various connectors for attaching a panel element to the clampassembly of the disclosed invention; and,

FIGS. 6A-6B are depictions of one or more clamp assemblies attached to apanel element and a second panel element according to the disclosedinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings andphotographic drawings, the inventive embodiments disclosed hereininclude an apparatus and method for detachably securing two objects,such as panel elements together with a novel fulcrum-lever clampingassembly.

FIG. 1 discloses an embodiment of the clamp assembly according to thepresent inventive disclosure. The clamp assembly 1 includes clamp stop2, clamp spine 3, actuating screw 4, cross dowel 5, and clamp lever 6. Aclamp pad 7 may be attached to a surface of clamp stop 2 as shown. Theedge of the lower end of clamp spine 3 acts as the fulcrum or pivotpoint 8 about which clamp lever 6 rotates and translates as the userturns the actuating screw 4 resulting in the bi-directional movement ofcross-dowel 5. As cross-dowel 5 is drawn toward the clamp spine 3, itcauses the clamp lever 6 to rotate about a fulcrum point created by thelower edge of the clamp spine 3 and towards the clamp pad 7 affixed onthe clamp stop 2. The operation of the clamp assembly 1 is more fullydescribed in the disclosure below.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the clamp assembly.Clamp stop 2 and clamp spine 3 may be manufactured as a monolithic pieceor two manufactured articles connected by welding or other connectionmeans as known in the art. An orifice is formed in clamp spine 3 so asto allow actuating screw 4 to pass through clamp spine and clamp lever 6and threadedly connect with cross-dowel 5 through an orifice 9 formedtherein. A clamp pad 7 is attached to a surface of clamp stop 2 to aidin securing the panel elements to be connected together by the clampassembly 1.

FIGS. 3A-3C depict the method by which the clamp assembly operates andattaches to a panel element as disclosed herein. Referring to FIG. 3A,the clamp assembly 1 is shown in the unclamped position. At Step 1, theuser turns the actuating screw in a clockwise manner with the effect ofthe actuating screw drawing the cross-dowel toward the clamp spine asshown at Step 2. As the user turns the actuating screw, the cross-dowelbegins traveling toward the clamp and the lower edge of the clamp spineprovides a fulcrum about which the clamp lever rotates in turn raisingthe clamp lever toward the opposing clamp stop as shown at Step 3.

FIG. 3B shows the clamp assembly in the clamped position about panelelement 11. In this embodiment, the user turns actuating screw 4 to drawin cross-dowel 5 toward clamp spine 3 in turn causing clamp lever 6 topivot about fulcrum 8. As actuating screw 4 is turned, cross-dowel 5continues to raise clamp lever 6 towards opposing clamp stop 2 until thepanel element 11 is secured between the surfaces of clamp pad 7 andclamp lever 6 at clamp lever contact point 10. In this depiction, panelelement 11 is secured by the clamp assembly to another panel assembly,wall or other fixed element (not shown) that is attached above or to theclamp stop 2. In the event the user wishes to detach panel assembly 11,the user simply counter-rotates actuating screw 4 thereby movingcross-dowel 5 away from clamp spine 3 and causing clamp lever 6 torotate and move away from opposing clamp stop 2 and releasing panelelement 11.

FIG. 3C demonstrates the similar features and use of the clamp assemblywith a thin panel element 11 as opposed to a thicker panel elementdepicted in FIG. 3B. The embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 3A-3C istypically used to secure panel elements with thicknesses ranging fromabout ⅝ to 1½ inches, although the clamp assembly may be used with avariety of elements with differing dimensions as required by the user.As can be seen in comparing FIGS. 3B and 3C, the clamp assembly isoperable to provide a secure connection between panel elements ofvarying size and thickness. In FIG. 3C, a thin panel element 11 is shownin the secured position. In this embodiment, the user turns actuatingscrew 4 to draw in cross-dowel 5 toward clamp spine 3, in turn causingclamp lever 6 to pivot about fulcrum point 8. As actuating screw 4 isturned, cross-dowel 5 continues to raise clamp lever 6 towards opposingclamp stop 2 until the panel element 11 is secured between the surfacesof clamp pad 7 and clamp lever 6. In this depiction, the clamp assemblynow secures panel element 11 to another panel assembly, wall or otherfixed element (not shown) that is attached above or to the clamp stop 2.

FIGS. 4A and 4B depict an embodiment of the clamp assembly which may beutilized to connect an upper panel element to a table or other elementwhich has no ability to utilize a standard C-clamp due to limited spaceand an inability to clamp to the bottom table or other element surface.Turning to FIG. 4A, an embodiment of clamp assembly 20 is shown. Clampassembly 20 includes an elongate clamp stop 21 with attachment holes 23provided and spaced along the length of the clamp stop 21 whereby clampstop 21 may be fixed to another panel element. Actuating screw 4 isthreadedly connected to cross-dowel 5 which acts to support and causeclamp lever 6 to move up or down in elevation relative to clamp stop 21,while clamp lever 6 pivots about fulcrum point 8 as actuating screw 4 isturned in a clockwise or counter-clockwise manner. Attachment holes 24provide variable thickness adjustment sites to which clamp body 20 maybe fixed to another panel element. Attachment holes 24 may also serve asvariable thickness adjustment sites for insertion of actuating screw 4so as to accommodate panel elements of various thicknesses and providingfor the adjustable positioning of clamping lever 6 depending on thethickness of the panel element being secured by clamp assembly 20.

FIG. 4B depicts an embodiment of the clamp assembly securing a panelelement 28 to a table element 25. In this embodiment, fastening meanssuch as screws, nails, glue or other fasteners as known in the art,connect panel element 28 to clamp stop 21 of the clamp assembly. Asbackground, table element 25 is secured to support element 26 via stud27 as is known in current modern desk furniture construction. Panelelement 28 is placed in the desired location in relative proximity totable element 25 whereby table element 25 is positioned between clampstop 21 and clamp lever 6. The user turns the actuating screw 4resulting in clamp lever 6 rotating in arcuate fashion towards clampstop 21, as cross-dowel 5 is drawn towards clamp spine 22, until clamplever 6 places sufficient pressure against table element 25 which isrestricted from movement by the compressive force exerted on tableelement 25 between clamp stop 21 and clamp lever 6.

In this configuration, panel element 28 and table element 25 areconnected together by the user simply positioning panel element 28 inthe appropriate location relative to table element 25 and turning theactuating screw 4 from an easily accessible location. There is no needfor the user to crawl up under the panel assembly in order to manipulateactuating screw 4 or other hardware that is typically difficult tomanipulate in such confined spaces. To detach panel element 28 from thetable element 25, the user simply counter-rotates actuating screw 4thereby removing the compressive force placed on table element 25 by theclamp assembly 1 and providing for easy detachment and removal of panelelement 28 therefrom.

FIGS. 5A and 5B depict embodiments of the present invention that includeadditional connecting means, such as screws 29, 30 and tab 31, forattaching panel elements to the clamp assembly 1 at various locationsincluding the clamp stop 2 and clamp spine 3. However, it iscontemplated that additional connecting means, such as bolts, nails orother connectors capable of attaching a panel element to the clampassembly 1 are contemplated by the applicant and are known in the art tothose of ordinary skill.

Turning to FIG. 5A, screw 29 and/or screw 30 may be used to attach theclamp assembly 1 to a fixed element, table, surface, or other panelelement (not shown). FIG. 5B discloses an embodiment of the inventionthat includes screw 29, screw 30 and a tab 31 secured by screw 29 toclamp stop 2. Tab 31 allows for the clamp assembly to be detachablysecured to a modular panel element that includes a track pathway (notshown) and into which the tab 31 may be inserted and positioning theclamp assembly as the user desires. After the user positions and securesthe clamp assembly 1 at the desired location, the user rotates screw 29to secure the clamp assembly to the modular panel element (not shown).As previously described herein, the user may then position a secondpanel element between clamp stop 2 and clamp lever 6 and by rotating theactuation screw 4 secure the second panel element to the modular panelelement (not shown).

The embodiment in FIG. 5B also discloses additional clamp pads 7 locatedon various surfaces of clamp stop 2 and clamp lever 6 which may act toprovide a non-marring padded surface to protect the surface of the tableelement or panel element secured by the clamp assembly 1. In alternativeembodiments, teeth, ridges, tabs or other score marks may be formed intothe contact surfaces of the clamp assembly 1, including clamp stop 2and/or clamp lever 6 to provide additional friction forces to prevent orreduce the slippage or movement of the table element (not shown), andpanel element secured by the clamp assembly 1.

FIG. 5C depicts an embodiment of the invention that includes spring 32surrounding actuation screw 4 so as to provide an axial stability forcebetween clamp spine 3 and clamp lever 6. The axial force imparted byspring 32 acts to constantly push clamp lever 6 in contact with clampspine 3 at the fulcrum or pivot point 10 thereby substantiallypreventing transverse rotation of the clamp lever 6 which may result inthe clamp lever 6 moving out of the desired position for pivoting aboutthe fulcrum or pivot point 10. As actuation screw 4 is rotated in aclockwise or counter-clockwise motion thereby moving cross-dowel 5 inthe desired direction, spring 32 acts to impart sufficient axial forcebetween clamp spine 3 and clamp lever 6 to prevent transverse rotationalmotion between clamp spine 3 and clamp lever 6 relative to the fulcrumor pivot point 10.

FIGS. 6A and 6B disclose various operative embodiments of the clampassembly disclosed herein as used in a typical working environment.Turning to FIG. 6A, two clamp assemblies 1 are shown attached to dividerpanel element 33 prior to connection with another panel element, tableor object. FIG. 6B shows divider panel element 33 attached to table 34with one or more clamp assemblies 1. As can be readily seen from theinvention disclosed herein, the divider panel element 33, or any otherelement or object the user may wish to attach to a desk, table orobject, may readily and easily be connected together using the variousclamp assembly embodiments as shown and described in this application.

The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way ofillustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in theart will recognize that many variations of the clamp assembly arepossible within the spirit and scope of the invention in which all termsare meant in their broadest, reasonable sense unless otherwiseindicated. The description and utilization of the clamp assembly setforth herein is not meant to be limited to any particular industry oruse, and those of skill in the art will recognize the disclosedinvention may be applied in other industrial arts such as the medicalarts, mechanical arts and technological arts. Any headings utilizedwithin the description are for convenience only and have no legal orlimiting effect.

We claim:
 1. A method for securing a clamp assembly to a panel element,comprising: positioning the clamp assembly in a desired location about apanel element; raising a clamp lever towards an opposing clamp stop byrotating an actuating screw in contact with a cross-dowel until thepanel element is in contact with the clamp stop and the clamp lever. 2.The method of claim 1 further comprising: counter-rotating the actuatingscrew to release the clamp assembly from the panel element.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: connecting a second panel elementto the clamp assembly.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the panelelement comprises one of a table, a divider, a courtesy panel and adivider panel.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: connectinga second panel element to a clamp spine.
 6. The method of claim 1,further comprising: connecting a second panel element to the clamp stop.